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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 23, 2012 21:58:01 GMT -5
"Because Impactor is female-bodied," Ms. Zaman says quietly, "Transgender hate crime. A little more complicated, given that Impactor is a genderless space robot who doesn't understand the signs on bathroom doors, but you know." She shrugs. "We're just going to play it that Impactor's a man. Simpler that way."
She nods and reflects, "This is good cider. A bit fruitier than I'd like, but... cider." Ms. Zaman waves a hand dismissively. "Pincher hasn't significantly bonded with any of the crew thus far. He keeps to himself. So before we ask, 'Are we going to lose him?' we first have to ask, 'Did we ever have him in the first place?' My first inclination is just to let him go without letting him know and feed him false intel to pass on to Shockwave."
Ms. Zaman stares off at one of the walls of Rodney's apartment.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 23, 2012 22:38:35 GMT -5
Rodney sighs when Sharon explains why Impactor is in trouble, though he says nothing. He has a hard time why humans would divide themselves over differences like this, but then, his own species was divided for millions of years. It's disheartening how universal hate can be.
He frowns at Sharon's 'first inclination.' "What do you mean, 'just to let him go'? Anyway, I think lying to him would just play into her hands if he finds out. Are we really doing well enough that we can afford losing someone with his skill set?" This, of course, is not the real reason that Rodney doesn't want to do what Sharon is proposing, but he feels they're valid points, all the same, and if they're the ones that persuade her, all the better.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 23, 2012 23:01:09 GMT -5
"I mean let him betray us, as he appears to be fixing to do," Ms. Zaman says coldly, "If we don't tell him anything, he'll know that we suspect him. If we tell him real information and he betrays us, Shockwave wins. If we tell him he must leave her employ, he might resent it and conspire against us. If we lock him up, he might loathe us and will waste the time of a guard. If we feed him disinformation and he passes it on to Shockwave, we could possibly maneuver her into a corner and eliminate her. We cannot do so with his knowing - he has not the internals to be a double-agent."
She studies his face closely and states, "You think he is worth trying to save from himself. Can we afford to lose him? No loss is affordable, but we rack them up all the same. We may be able to afford his debt. It might cost less than the damage that we could suffer for trusting him."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 24, 2012 19:12:23 GMT -5
Rodney frowns. "Why does he 'appear to be fixing to'?" he asks stubbornly. Xaaron does make good points, he's forced to admit, but... Pincher hasn't actually done anything wrong yet, at least nothing that isn't the result of being misinformed. On the other hand... "Obvious lies aren't going to help anyone, anyway. That means we have to... minimize the misinformation, and otherwise just work under the assumption that anything real we tell him is compromised and... and have a contingency plan."
Why so reluctant? This isn't the first time you've betrayed Pincher, a voice asks.
That was you! he snaps back.
Unicron has been quieter than usual since he work up in this human body, but... not completely silent.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 24, 2012 19:28:43 GMT -5
"He hasn't befriended anyone in the crew to any degree that bears mentioning, and he hasn't terminated his employment with Victoria. I can understand not attacking her out of cowardice, but you cannot deny that the way he has behaved is questionable at best and treasonous at worst. How many Autobots and Maximals are going to die if he sells us out?" Ms. Zaman asks, thinking back to just how the Wreckers baited the trap for Operation: Volcano.
"Suppose we leave him with her. What do we get out of it? We'll have to assume that anything he knows is going to be passed on to her and that anything he passes back to us is pure disinformation. I... suppose we could ask him as to his motivations. Do we have any telepaths?"
She pulls up the notes she's been given on everyone.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 25, 2012 19:47:48 GMT -5
But the bait had already betrayed the Autobots. Here, they're just assuming Pincher will.
Rodney scowls. "I just said contingency plans with a minimum of misinformation," he snaps, emphasizing the words that show he had agreed, if only partially. "If we do nothing but lie outright to him, both he and Victoria are going to know from the get go, and it's not going to do anyone any good. And... yeah, let's ask for his motivations before we stab him in the back and push him right into her arms."
Then, however, he grins. "And as it so happens, Holi... well, Stuart Hollister... is a telepath now. Surface-thoughts and feelings, but that should be enough." It might not be enough for, say, Counterpunch, but Pincher is a far cry from Counterpunch when it comes to the spy game.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 25, 2012 20:06:24 GMT -5
"Hmm, Holi... Hollister is also almost infectiously likable. If it works out, we might be able to assign him as Pincher... Mr. Stantz's handler for the time being. Other problem, " Ms. Zaman says, looking over her notes, "Mr. Stantz is a vampire, and Impactor... Imp is a zombie. Mr. Stantz seems to be getting by on animal blood, but Imp seems to need human brains, though dead brains work. First, he tried to eat my head."
She frowns slightly.
"That was awkward to explain to the doctor."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 25, 2012 21:25:01 GMT -5
Rodney mutters, "Well, the zombie thing isn't too surprising... seems like usually, whatever we got made into reflects what we were. The brains thing is a pain, though." He tilts his head and seems to consider something, then says, "I suppose I should mention that I can't do airports. Or pools or beaches. Or anything else that calls for going through a metal detector or taking off my shirt." This actually adds up to a pretty long list of restrictions, when it comes down to it.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 25, 2012 21:48:31 GMT -5
"Reflects, but... I wonder if it tries to tame us, too. If I really was a human... I assure you, I'd be in a political office by now. If I was condemned to live on this planet, I'd want guiding hand on the wheel," Ms. Zaman says, scowling.
Possibly also some children, she thinks. She wouldn't give them cyanide pills, though. She has learned that lesson.
Then Ms. Zaman blurts, "Your shirt doesn't come off? What a strange disorder!"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 25, 2012 22:30:45 GMT -5
"Ah, no, not that..." Rodney reaches down and pulls off his red t-shirt. His chest is muscular and completely impossible. Over where his heart should be, the Matrix is clearly visible, the orb not pushing forward enough to be visible beneath his shirt before it blends into his skin. It should interfere with his muscles' ability to operate, and from the looks of things, he may not actually even have a human heart. There is something of a metaphor to this literal reality.
"There," he says, smiling sheepishly.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 25, 2012 23:09:41 GMT -5
Ms. Zaman, being a pretty grabby person, tries to reach out and touch her fingertips to his chest, near to where the handle should rightfully be.
She says solemnly, "Your eyes are green."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 25, 2012 23:27:39 GMT -5
Rodney allows the touch. At her observation, he nods. "I know," he says softly. Then he shakes his head. "But he's still... quieter. The Matrix seems tied into the powers I have in this body, and I seem to be able to use them without his... corruption. But..." he sighs and brings his green-eyed gaze up to meet Sharon's eyes. "In this body, it won't be long before he can burn me out. A natural lifespan of millions of years was reduced to a few hundred. What's he going to do to a being that only lives a century at best?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 25, 2012 23:44:43 GMT -5
"You know I wasn't your roommate because I liked the view," Ms. Zaman reminds.
Emirate Xaaron is one of the few who stands a chance of doing anything if Unicron gets loose on Rodimus. It's not a very good chance, but it is better than no chance. Xaaron wasn't about to put any other Autobot in that danger.
"Do you want to move in? I have two guest rooms. You could have your Addison Payne over all you liked."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 25, 2012 23:52:08 GMT -5
"Oh, gods, you realize the sort of field day the tabloids would have with that, right?" Rodney asks, chuckling lightly. Then he sobers, and considers. "It's... probably a good idea, though, media circus or not. But would you want to be subjected with the sort of speculation that'll get you?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Feb 26, 2012 0:06:15 GMT -5
Ms. Zaman is entirely serious as she replies, "I don't give a slag what the media think. If he gets loose, there isn't going to be any media."
Then she smiles and adds more jokingly, "It'll give my aides something to do."
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